Marked by His Shadows

One –

rain outside a nightclub she couldn't afford to enter, holdi

e, it wo

she'd miss

oommate had turned o

t possibly get worse. And right now, she wasn't sure if she wanted

k. The city glowed around her, so alive, so far removed from her existence. Neon signs flickered

felt warm

it ha

e fire, like ice, like claws beneath her skin.

earing. Not ou

ne of her dress down

ma

ke a brand. Black as ink, but pulsing faint

the he

dn't f

on of the café window,

. Dressed in black, wit

pun a

th

the patter of rain on pavement and

on her chest

t sleep t

three frantic showers, two scrubs with a loofah that left her raw, a

ts were n

at a bookstore that smelled like dust and regr

omething

ne was wa

. Every corner. Every flick

later, it

acked sidewalk, keys gripped between her knuckles the way h

ilent. U

dow sli

," a vo

She stopped, con

cost more than her monthly rent, and his eyes wer

afe out here,

, disbelieving. "Did you

oor behind

didn't say a word. Just st

rimal in he

rned a

dn't g

y. But firmly. Like they knew e

lanced, frowned, turned away. Because to them, it didn't

into the car.

n she s

s from her in

m the café

stillness so complete it made her breath ca

ice low and smooth, like glass

"Who the h

dn't

an Th

hit her l

ire recluse. Whispers of criminal empires, political puppets, and power that didn't ma

d very r

from me?" she sa

man studies a woman. Like a predator studies

"Something that's waking. And whether you like it or

ked. "Are

dred years," he continued, ignoring her sarcasm. "

ied th

as l

him, heart pounding

mark appeared, your death became a guarantee

f silence

e. "Then what do

rd, eyes sharp

alive, Miss Monroe.

pau

so d